Winnipeg continuing Terry Fox’s dream 43 years later
Posted September 17, 2023 4:49 pm.
Last Updated September 18, 2023 1:53 am.
Winnipeg’s Terry Fox run this year had a special guest: Terry’s older brother Fred Fox.
“I’m a little biased, but I’ve always referred to Assiniboine Park being my favourite city park in Canada,” he told CityNews.
“So I finally got a chance to participate here after 43 years since the first Terry Fox Run.”
Fox says every run is personal, but this run in particular was special – it brought him back to his hometown, where both he and Terry were born.
“He would be so proud that his home, his birth province, his birth city – that it continues this all these years later,” said Fred Fox.
The annual run is a tribute to Terry’s Marathon of Hope.
Terry Fox’s older brother Fred Fox surrounded by volunteers at the Terry Fox Run in Winnipeg Sept. 17, 2023. (Joanne Roberts, CityNews)
Terry was diagnosed with cancer in 1977. In 1980, he began running across Canada to bring awareness to cancer and raise money for research.
In September of that year, he was forced to stop after cancer was found in his lungs.
“Winnipeg was ready for Terry,” said Fred. “They were anticipating it, they were getting things arranged.
“I was with Terry in northern Ontario and we talked about coming home and seeing family.
“He wasn’t able to do that. And that doesn’t matter anymore – because everybody in Winnipeg and throughout the province are continuing Terry’s dream.”
To date, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised more than $850 million towards cancer research.
Terry Fox died in June 1981.
